The Cleveland Guardians are always on the lookout for impact talent, both in the major leagues and for their farm system. With that in mind, they had some news to announce on Saturday.
According to the team, they acquired right-handed pitcher Ryan Degges in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies. In exchange, the Guardians sent $250,000 in international pool money to the Phillies.
We've made a trade.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/xEK9CnHv1g
— GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) July 4, 2026
It’s probably not the kind of blockbuster deal that most Guardians fans were hoping for, but this is the type of move that could pay off a couple of years from now. Degges is a 23-year-old prospect who was taken in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by Philadelphia.
He made his professional debut last year, and this season he has posted a 5.47 ERA in 24.2 innings across Single-A and High-A. Most of those frames, 20.2 to be exact, have come at the more advanced level, where he has a 4.79 ERA.
Degges is basically a project for Cleveland, which is known for its impeccable work developing pitchers. He has a high walk rate between the two levels this year (12.9 percent) and allows too many home runs, 2.19 per nine innings.
However, he also boasts some strikeout potential, evidenced by his 25 percent rate. He also has college experience.
The Guardians like Degges’ stuff and metrics, and believe that he could develop into a nice piece in the upcoming years. He is currently on a rehab assignment but should be ready to pitch in the Guardians’ system relatively soon.
Degges throws a slider and a changeup in addition to a four-seam fastball. He is joining a team with the track record, expertise and resources to help him become the best pitcher he can possibly be, even if it takes a couple of years or more.
This isn’t expected to be the only trade the Guardians complete ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Their offense needs some punch, and they could also use a major-league-ready reliever or two to shore up the bullpen.
For now, however, Degges is the latest arm to join the organization.
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